This year more than 350 Oregonians filed to run for statewide, congressional, and legislative offices— and hundreds more filed for city and county seats.
To determine how closely aligned they are with a union agenda of dignity, security, and prosperity for working people, union member volunteers and political staff send out questionnaires and interview candidates.
You’ll notice different unions often endorse different candidates, but not because they don’t value labor unity. They may have different priorities and different processes. For example, building trades unions may back candidates who will remove barriers to getting construction projects going or who will prioritize investments in public infrastructure. Public sector unions may prioritize support for candidates who will fight for adequate funding for public services — and deal fairly when it comes time to negotiate union contacts that cover public employees.
Some union endorsements are decided by fulltime political staff who deal with elected officials day in and day out. Others are the result of member-driven processes in which a candidate may succeed or fail because of the impression they make on members who participate in the endorsement process. Viability is often a factor: If a candidate can’t show they’re serious about winning, unions may not want to spend resources or credibility on their campaigns.
See the Legend for acronyms of the endorsing unions.
Be sure to mail your ballot early!
Ballots were mailed out April 29 and must be received or postmarked by Tuesday, May 19. Election officials recommend that after May 12, voters use an official ballot drop box, take their ballots directly to their local elections officials, or go to a USPS location and get ballots postmarked.
How this guide works
This union-focused ballot guide tries to keep it simple.
It lists only campaigns that have at least one union endorsing them.
Because this guide is meant to help union households make decisions when they have a ballot in hand, candidates who are running unopposed — or who won’t face opposition until the November general election — are not listed.
Following each name is a list of union endorsers and a link to the campaign website, if they have one. Acronyms are in the legend below.
In each entry, AFL-CIO councils and Building Trades councils are listed first because those are “unions of unions,” and therefore their endorsement may represent a broader consensus of at least half (and sometime two-thirds) of affiliated unions.
Collectively, the union endorsements in this guide represent many thousands of hours of effort by union volunteers, officers and staff interviewing and evaluating the choices.
Non-partisan primary
Oregon has a multiude of local offices that are “nonpartisan.” For nonpartisan offices, any registered voter can cast a ballot in the primary. If any candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, they win outright. If no candidate gets more than 50%, the top two vote-getters face off in the November general election.
COUNTY OFFICES
CLACKAMAS COUNTY
The Clackamas County Commission is made up of five members serving four-year terms.
Commissioner Position 2
Paul Savas, incumbent, has served as commissioner since 2010. He’s the owner of Savas Tuning Systems, an auto parts rebuilding business. This year he faces four challengers. NOLC, CPBCTC, AFSCME 350, IAFF 1159, 1660, IBEW 48, ILWU 8, IW 29, IUPAT DC 5, LiUNA 737, UBC, UFCW 555 electpaulsavas.com
Jim Bernard is a former Milwaukie mayor (as was his father) and served as Clackamas County chair from 2017 to 2020 following two four-year terms as county commissioner. In 2020 he lost to Tootie Smith. He’s also the former owner of an auto repair shop in Milwaukie that his grandfather founded. IUOE 701 votejbernard.com
Commissioner Position 4
Diana Helm, the incumbent, was appointed in 2025 by fellow commissioners to the position that was held by Melissa Fireside, who is now a fugitive wanted for felony theft. Now she’s running to serve the final two years of the term. Helm is the former mayor of the former city of Damascus. She also formerly owned a home and garden store. She faces six challengers, including a former member of Ironworkers Local 29, Brian O’Neill, who’s now manager at JD Steel. But Helm is the only one mounting a credible campaign. NOLC, IBT JC 37, UFCW 555, Clackamas County Peace Officers Association votedianahelm.com
Commissioner Position 5
Ben West, the incumbent, is against the gas tax increase that would fund transportation; that’s front and center in his campaign materials. West is a Navy veteran and registered nurse by occupation and formerly served on the Wilsonville City Council. NOLC, IAFF 1159, IBT JC 37, IW 29 (dual), UBC, Clackamas County Peace Officers Association benwest.us
Sonya Fischer is a family law attorney from Lake Oswego. She served five years as the commissioner for this district until she lost narrowly to Ben West in 2022. In her 2018 and 2022 campaigns, she had broad support from labor, but this year she entered the race fairly late, after a number of labor organizations had already completed their endorsement process and backed West. She has the endorsement of the independent union that represents county employees; Clackamas County Employee Association has stayed out of politics until now and says it’s their first time making an endorsement. IBEW 48, UA 290, HFIAW 36, UFCW 555, Clackamas County Employee Association sonyafischer.com
DESCHUTES COUNTY
Central Oregon’s Deschutes County has been the fastest growing county in the state for many years and has doubled in population since 2000. In 2024 a citizen initiative passed to expend the county commission from three members to five. Those changes take effect this year. Because incumbent commissioner Patty Adair is running for the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Congresswoman Janelle Bynum, four of the five seats are up for election this year, and the county’s political direction is up for grabs. The seats were made nonpartisan in a 2022 voter-passed initiative.
Commissioner, Position 1
Jamie Collins, a Coast Guard veteran and climate scientist, is challenging incumbent Tony DeBone and has labor’s support. DeBone declined even to be interviewed by the Central Oregon Labor Chapter or fill out its candidate questionnaire. COLC, COBCTC, IW 29, LiUNA 737, SEIU 503, 49, UBC collins4deschutes.com
Commissioner, Position 3
Amanda Page Is a firefighter and flight paramedic, a member of the Redmond school board, and an active member of the Klamath Tribe. She’s running for the seat vacated when Patty Adair launched a campaign for Congress. COLC, SEIU 503 (dual), UBC, UFCW 555, WFP pageforprogress.com
Amy Sabbadini was a high school social studies teacher for 20 years and was active in the teachers union. She’s also been a civics educator, adjunct professor at OSU-Cascades, and a county land use planner. SEIU 503 (dual) vote4sabbadini.com
Commissioner, Position 4
Rick Russell is a former pastor long active on the issue of homelessness. He now heads a nonprofit that’s building supportive housing for the homeless. OBTU, COLC, IW 29, LiUNA 737, SEIU 503, UBC, WFP voterickrussell.com
Commissioner, Position 5
Morgan Schmidt is executive director for the Red Cross of Central & Eastern Oregon and a long-time youth pastor who’s active with the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. In 2022 she got 49% of the vote in a challenge to incumbent Patty Adair. COLC, COBCTC, IW 29, LiUNA 737, SEIU 503, UBC, WFP morganlovesoregon.com
LANE COUNTY
Commissioner Position 2 (Springfield)
Sean VanGordon has been mayor of Springfield since 2021, and before that served 10 years on Springfield City Council. He’s also director of financial and capacity planning for Optum, a healthcare conglomerate. LCCLC, AFSCME 2831 (Lane County), IAFF 851, UBC seanvangordon.com
Commissioner District 5 (East Lane County)
Heather Buch Is running for a third four-year term. Before serving as commissioner, she ran a commercial real estate and property management firm and worked on affordable housing for St. Vincent de Paul. LCCLC, LCCDBTC, AFSCME 2831, IAFF 851, IBEW 280, IW 29, LiUNA 737, SEIU 503, SMART 16, UA 290, UBC heatherbuch.com
POLK COUNTY
Commissioner Position 2
Roxanne Beltz is a member of the Monmouth city council and former manager at the public mass transit agency Cherriots. UFCW 555, WFP believeinbeltz.com
Commissioner Position 3
Jeremy Gordon is the incumbent. UFCW 555 gordonforpolk.com
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Commissioner-at-large (Chair)
Pam Treece is a former bank director and vice president of PacifiCorp (and at one time, a schoolteacher) who has served as Washington County commissioner for District 2 since 2019. She has decades of civic involvement and is a former director of the business-backed advocacy group Westside Economic Alliance. NOLC, IAFF 1660, 2210, IBEW 48, LiUNA 737, UA 290, UBC, UW 290, Washington County Police Officers Association pamforwashingtoncounty.com
Nafisa Fai Is a Washington County Commissioner mid-way through her second four-year term representing District 1 from Raleigh Hills to Aloha. She’s also a former public health official with American Red Cross and Upstream Public Health. She’s also a founder of the Pan African Festival. She’s considered a union ally, and had labor backing in her 2020 and 2024 campaigns. This year she’s splitting union endorsements with Treece, who’s also cultivated relationships with organized labor. AFSCME, CWA 7901, IBT JC 37 SEIU 503, WFP nafisaforwashingtoncounty.com
Commissioner, District 2 (Beaverton and north)
Felicita Monteblanco has close to 20 years of nonprofit and civic involvement. She’s public affairs manager for the Northwest Health Foundation, and before that worked for Virginia Garcia health clinic and the Albertina Kerr charity. NOLC, CPBCTC, IAFF 1660, 2210, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, SEIU 503 (dual), UFCW (dual) felicitalovesoregon.com
Blayne Soleymani-Pearson prosecutes domestic violence cases as deputy district attorney for Multnomah County. AFT-Oregon, AFT 4671 (Hillsboro Classified United) SEIU 503 (dual), UBC, UFCW (dual), WFP blaynefororegon.com
Commissioner, District 4 (western Washington County)
Steve Callaway is a former Oregon City schoolteacher and retired Hillsboro school principal who served two terms as Mayor of Hillsboro and six years on Hillsboro city council. He faces five other candidates for the seat being vacated by Jerry Willey, who’s retiring. One of them is former stockbroker and ESL instructor Kimberly Culbertson; she drew union endorsements in unsuccessful races for Washington County Commission and Hillsboro City Council in 2018 and 2020, but does not appear to be raising money or mounting an energetic campaign this time around. NOLC, IAFF 1660 electstevecallaway.com
Anthony Martin is a financial analyst and planner, formerly at the City of Portland and now at the City of Hillsboro, and served eight years on Hillsboro City Council. SEIU 503, UFCW 555 voteanthonymartin.com
CITY OFFICES
BEAVERTON
City Council Position 1
This seat is being vacated by Beaverton City Councilor Ashley Hartmeier-Prigg, who’s running for state house.
Rachel Philip is a software developer and civic activist. NOLC, IAFF 1660, UFCW 555 (dual), Beaverton Police Association rachelforbeaverton.com
Evelyn Kocher is communications manager for the Latino Network community group, a member of the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission, and was campaign manager for Portland City Council member Angelita Morillo. SEIU 503, 49, OEA (BEA), UFCW 555 (dual), WFP evelynforbeaverton.com
City Council Position 2
Kevin Teater, incumbent, is former executive director of the Beaverton Downtown Association. NOLC, IAFF 1660, SEIU 503, UFCW 555, Beaverton Police Association kevinteater.com
City Council Position 5
John Dugger, incumbent, is a longtime procurement manager for health care organizations like Providence and Cambia, and a neighborhood and civic activist and co-founder of Pride Beaverton. NOLC, IAFF 1660, SEIU 503, 49, UBC, UFCW 555 johnforbeaverton.com
EUGENE
City Council, Ward 3
Jennifer Smith is administrative support staff person for the University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Council. She’s also a longtime union steward and officer, currently serving as president of SEIU Local 503 sublocal 085, the union that represents nearly 1,800 support workers at University of Oregon. LCCLC, AFSCME 1724 (City of Eugene), AFT Local 3544(GTFF), CWA 7901, SEIU 503, SMART 16, UAW 8121 (University of Oregon Student Workers), UBC, WFP electjennifersmith.org
City Council, Ward 5
Mike Clark, the incumbent, is a mortgage loan specialist and longtime civic activist. LCCDBTC, UA 290, UBC electmikeclark.com
Athena Aguiar is an environmental activist and fundraiser. AFSCME 1724 (City of Eugene) (dual), SEIU 503, WFP (dual) athena4eugene.com
Jasmine Hatmaker is a mortgage advisor and community volunteer. AFSCME 1724 (City of Eugene) (dual), WFP (dual) jasminehatmaker.com
City Council, Ward 6
Tai Pruce-Zimmerman is a stay-at-home dad and former accounting clerk who’s challenging incumbent Greg Evans. AFSCME 1724 (City of Eugene), SEIU 503 togetherwithtai.com
Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) at-large board member
Alexi Miller is a licensed professional engineer and energy efficiency and utility policy expert. He has the endorsement of IBEW Local 659, which represents workers at EWEB — the first time Local 659 has endorsed an EWEB Board candidate. LCCLC, IBEW 659 friendsofaleximiller.com
Ballot measure 20-381 (Eugene Public Library Levy)
YES on Ballot Measure 20-381, a five-year property tax levy to maintain library operations. The rate is 19 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, totaling $54 a year for the average property owner, and it would raise an estimated $4.3 million a year. AFSCME 1724 (City of Eugene) OEA (EEA)
SALEM
Mayor
Vanessa Nordyke is executive director of a foster care nonprofit and was formerly senior assistant attorney general at the Oregon Department of Justice. There, she was a member of AFSCME Local 1085. She’s a graduate of the Oregon Labor Candidate School. She has served on Salem City Council since 2019 and now is challenging incumbent mayor Julie Hoy. AFSCME 2067 (City of Salem), SEIU 503, UFCW 555, WFP electvanessanordyke.com
Julie Hoy, the incumbent, is a musician and restaurant owner. She has served as mayor since 2024, after previously serving two years on city council. IAFF 314, Salem Police Employees Union julieforsalem.com
Councilor Ward 2 (central Salem)
Linda Nishioka, the incumbent, is the retired director of a plastic surgery clinic. SEIU 503, UBC, UFCW 555, WFP lindanishiokaforsalem.com
City Councilor Ward 4 (south Salem)
Dave Inbody is operations director at the Oregon Health Authority and former deputy director of Deschutes County Health Services. He’s challenging incumbent Deanna Gwyn, a realtor. AFSCME, UBC, UFCW 555 daveforsalem.com
Councilor Ward 6 (Badger Corner)
Mai Vang, the incumbent, is a family law attorney who’s been on city council since June 2025 after she won a special election to fill Julie Hoy’s seat when she became mayor. AFSCME 2067 (City of Salem), SEIU 503, UBC electmaivang.com
Councilor Ward 8 (NW Salem/Brush College)
Micki Varney, the incumbent, is a retired salmon biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife who was active in her union SEIU Local 503. She was chief steward at her department and served on her bargaining team and on the statewide union’s general council and political committee. She’s also formerly served as city councilor in Dayton, Washington. SEIU 503, UFCW 555 votevarney.com
STATE OFFICES
Labor Commissioner
Christina Stephenson is enthusiastically supported across the labor movement. As Oregon’s labor commissioner, she’s in charge of enforcing vitally important wage and hour and civil rights laws and making sure apprenticeship programs benefit apprentices. In her first term, she persuaded the legislature to give the long-starved agency a 30% budget increase. She eliminated the backlog in apprenticeship program oversight and is making progress beating down the backlog of unpaid wage claims. She faces a challenge from Chris Lynch, a former civil rights compliance specialist at her agency; his campaign has no endorsements and has raised less than $5,000. Because Stephenson is a popular incumbent with just one little-known opponent, she’s expected to win outright in the May election. OLF, OBTU, AFT-Oregon, IAFF, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, SEIU 503, SMART, UFCW 555, WFP christinafororegon.com
YES on BALLOT MEASURE 120
Oregon was the first state in the nation to pass a gas tax to pay for road construction. It was 1919 and the tax was 1 cent per gallon. It paid to construct Pacific Highway and the Columbia River Highway. A century later, road users still pay for road and bridge construction and maintenance through the gas tax and vehicle and registration fees. But unlike gas taxes in 26 other states, Oregon’s doesn’t automatically rise to keep up with inflation. Vehicles are also using less gas as they become much more fuel efficient and as drivers increasingly switch to electric vehicles. As a result, gas tax revenues have flattened and are projected to decline in the years ahead.
House Bill 3991 — passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2025 — maintains funding for state and local road maintenance by raising the gas tax 6 cents a gallon (to 46 cents) and by boosting car registration fees to $85 (from $43). It also staves off cuts to public transit systems by doubling an existing payroll tax from 0.1% to 0.2%.
Republicans in the Legislature opposed HB 3991. After it passed, Republican lawmakers Ed Diehl (R-Scio) and Bruce Starr joined with anti-tax crusader Jason Williams to gather signatures to send the measure to voters. Their Stop the Gas Tax campaign hit a nerve with Oregonians and within six weeks they gathered over 250,000 signatures, roughly triple the number needed to qualify. That’s what’s now on the ballot this May as Measure 120. A yes vote approves what the legislature passed. A no vote rejects it.
For all the road rage over the 6 cent increase, the reality is that the typical driver would pay $35 a year more in gas tax and an additional $42 once every two years to renew registration.
Just like a home, a road is an expensive piece of infrastructure that’s much more costly to replace than to maintain. HB 3991’s Republican opponents offered no alternative of their own to fund road maintenance, so if voters reject Measure 120, lawmakers will either have to try again or Oregon drivers are about to find out what serious underinvestment in infrastructure looks like.
As it heads to the ballot, Ballot Measure 120 is an orphan. No political action committee has formed to defend it, and there’s no campaign. The consensus is the measure will fail. But the Oregon Labor Federation recommends a yes vote — just as its ancestor organization did in 1919. Oregonians need good roads, and union members are often employed on road projects.
METRO OFFICES
Oregon’s Metro is the only directly elected regional government in the United States. It serves over 1.5 million people in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties, coordinating land use and transportation planning among the region’s local governments, managing garbage and recycling, maintaining the Urban Growth Boundary, and running parks, trails, natural areas and venues such as the Oregon Convention Center, Portland Expo Center, and the Oregon Zoo. It’s governed by six Metro Councilors who serve four-year terms from individual districts, plus a Council President who is elected region-wide.
President
Juan Carlos Gonzalez is chief strategy officer for the Washington County Latino community organization Centro Cultural. He’s also a current Metro councilor and has represented the Westside suburbs of District 4 since 2019. (Metro councilor is a part-time elected position). He’s broadly backed by organized labor and has worked to understand union issues and cultivate relationships with labor leaders. Gonzalez faces four other candidates, including SEIU local president Ken Ross and Laborers Local 483 member Philip Fensterer, a marine life keeper at the Oregon Zoo. None except Gonzalez are raising money or mounting a serious campaign. Gonzalez has raised $108,000, with big contributions from realtors and developers, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and several endorsing unions. NOLC, CPBCTC, AFSCME 3580, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37 IW 29, UA 290, UBC, UFCW 555, WFP gonzalez4oregon.com
Ken Ross is a code compliance officer at the City of Tigard and serves as president of the sublocal there of SEIU Local 503. He’s also been a union steward and delegate and board member on the union’s statewide board and political committee. He’s also worked as a public safety agent at the Oregon Convention Center where he’s a member of ILWU Local 28. Local 503 endorsed him out of respect for his union commitments, but he’s not raising money, has no campaign web site, and is not considered a viable candidate. SEIU 503
Council District 1
Ashton Simpson is the incumbent Metro councilor representing Metro’s Eastside suburbs. He’s considered a rising star in local politics and has very close ties to labor. After growing up in a union household in East Houston where his mother was a bus driver and president of her union, he served in the U.S. Air Force. He later championed pedestrian safety as the executive director of Oregon Walks and worked to improve neglected East Portland neighborhoods as community asset planner at the Rosewood Initiative. He also worked as a project engineer for Colas Construction. Today he runs a business that installs electric vehicle chargers. In 2020 he ran as the Oregon Working Families Party’s candidate in an unsuccessful challenge to incumbent Democrat Diego Hernandez. He ran unopposed for his Metro seat in 2022 with multiple union endorsements. At Metro, serves on Metro’s Workforce Development board. NOLC, CPBCTC, IAFF 43, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, UBC, UFCW 555 ashtonformetro.com
Council District 4 (Westside suburbs)
This seat became open when Juan Carlos Gonzalez filed to run for Metro chair
Miles Palacios is the chief of staff for Oregon State Senator Wlnsvey Campos and as such is a member of IBEW Local 89. He grew up in McMinnville in a union family (his father a teacher and his mother a city employee). He formerly worked for the Association of Oregon Counties and the Oregon Association of Student Councils. He serves on the board of the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation Board and on the Metro Policy Advisory Committee. NOLC, AFSCME 3580, IBT JC 37, UBC, UFCW 555, WFP milesfororegon.com
Alex Phan is a real estate broker and owner of Diverse Realty Group. He’s the board chair for a nonprofit that serves homeless youth and serves on the Metro Council President’s Supportive Housing Services Work Group. His campaign has considerable backing from the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors. IBEW 48, UA 290 alexformetro.com
JUDICIAL OFFICES
Judge of the Circuit Court, 4th District, Position 2 (Multnomah County)
Chris Behre is a criminal defense attorney who has worked for Metropolitan Public Defender for 13 years. NOLC, AFSCME 88, UFCW 555, WFP behreforjudge.com
Laura Rowan is a senior assistant attorney general at the Oregon Department of Justice. Portland Police Association, Multnomah County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, Gresham Police Officers’ Association, Multnomah County Prosecuting Attorneys Association (MCPAA) laurarowanforjudge.com
Judge of the Circuit Court, 4th District, Position 5 (Multnomah County)
John Casalino is a senior assistant attorney general at the Oregon Department of Justice. Gresham Police Officers Association casalinoforjudge.com
Jo Perini-Abbott is a litigator at the firm Angeli & Calfo and professor at the Lewis & Clark Law School Advocacy Center. AFSCME 88, UFCW 555 jpaforjudge.com
Judge of the Circuit Court, 4th District, Position 12 (Multnomah County)
Peter Klym is a longtime public defender who has served as a steward and bargaining committee member for his AFSCME local. He’s challenging incumbent Adrian Brown. AFSCME 88
Judge of the Circuit Court, 4th District, Position 14 (Multnomah County)
Elizabeth Savage is a civil and family law attorney who sometimes serves as a temporary (pro tem) judge. Before becoming an attorney, she was a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon and worked as a high school English teacher in Louisiana. NOLC, IBT JC 37 savageforjudge.org
Kristine Almquist is a juvenile hearings officer and temporary assignment judge in Multnomah County. AFSCME 88 almquistforjudge.com
Joe Hagedorn is a referee and temporary assignment judge for Multnomah County. UFCW 555, WFP hagedornforjudge.com
Michael Lee has served as a prosecutor in the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office since 2016. Portland Police Association, Gresham Police Officers’ Association, Multnomah County Deputy Sheriffs Association, Multnomah County Prosecuting Attorneys Association leeformultnomahcountyjudge.com
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Only voters who are registered as Democrats can choose who the party’s nominee will be in the November general election.
FEDERAL OFFICES
U.S. SENATOR
Jeff Merkley is a three-term incumbent with a 99% lifetime voting record from the national AFL-CIO. He’s the son of a union machinist and has been a strong labor ally since his days as a state legislator and speaker of the Oregon House. OLF jeffmerkley.com
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Congressional District 1 (Portland/NW Oregon)
Suzanne Bonamici has served in Congress since 2012 and has a 97% lifetime score from the national AFL-CIO. In Congress, she’s been especially interested in workforce training policy, and she co-chairs the Apprenticeship Caucus and the Career and Technical Education Caucus. In the primary, she faces a nominal challenge from Jamil Ahmad, an Intel engineer who says he’s running because Bonamici has voted for bills that provide military aid to Israel. OLF, AFT, IAFF, IBT JC 37, LiUNA, OEA, ONA BonamiciForCongress.com
Congressional District 2 (Eastern Oregon)
Dawn Rasmussen of The Dalles is self-employed as a resume writer and formerly served as on the North Wasco County School Board. She’s running for the Democratic nomination in an overwhelmingly Republican district. OBTU, WFP dawnrasmussenforcongress.com
Congressional District 3 (Portland)
Maxine Dexter is a former critical care doctor who’s running for a second term in Congress after two terms as state representative. She has a 100% score from the national AFL-CIO thus far. OLF, CWA, AFGE, IAFF, IBT JC 37, LiUNA, ONA, SMART 16, UBC MaxineforOregon.com
Congressional District 4 (Eugene and Southwest Oregon)
Val Hoyle is a long-time labor ally who served one term as Oregon labor commissioner and nine years in the Oregon House representing Eugene. She has maintained a 100% rating from national AFL-CIO for her two terms in Congress. Her challenger in the Democratic primary is motivational speaker Melissa Bird, who is endorsed by the union-backed Working Families Party but not by any unions. OLF, OBTU, ATU, BAC, CWA, IAFF, IBB, IBEW 932, IUEC, IUOE, IW, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, ORCOPS, SEIU 503, UA, UBC, UFCW valhoyle.com
STATE OFFICES
GOVERNOR
Tina Kotek, the incumbent, faces nine other candidates for Democratic nomination. She has broad support from organized labor, but notably two politically active public sector unions, AFT-Oregon and OEA, declined to endorse her in the primary. OLF, OBTU, AFSCME, ATU, IBEW 48, IUPAT DC 5, IW 29, ONA, OSEA, SEIU 503, SMART 16, UA 290, UBC tinafororegon.com
STATE SENATOR
The Oregon State Senate has 30 members. They serve four year terms, and half of the seats are up for election every two years. Right now Democrats hold an 18-12 majority. Five races this year have no incumbents.
Senate District 3 (Ashland, Southern Oregon)
This is an open seat because Ashland Democrat Jeff Golden is retiring; five candidates are vying in the Democratic primary.
Cristian Mendoza Ruvalcaba is a nursing professor and former RN and nurse practitioner. He’s also a graduate of the Oregon Labor Candidate School. OEA, ONA cristianforsd3.com
Denise Krause Is a health care consultant and serves on the board of the Rogue Valley Transportation District. She led an unsuccessful ballot measure campaign to expand the Jackson Ccounty commission and make it nonpartisan. IBT JC 37, IW 29, SEIU 503, UBC denisekrause.com
Senate District 11 (Woodburn/Keizer)
Under the terms of a voter-approved 2022 ballot measure, Republican incumbent Kim Thatcher was barred from running for reelection because she participated in Republican walkouts and missed more than 10 legislative floor sessions.
Virginia Stapleton is an administrative supervisor at Willamette University and a former Salem City Councilor. She got 48% of the vote in a 2024 challenge to incumbent Republican state representative Kevin Mannix. AFSCME, IW 29, LiUNA, ONA, SEIU 503 (dual), SMART, UA 290, UBC, UFCW, WFP electvirginiastapleton.com
Teresa Alonso Leon is a former Woodburn City Council member who served three terms in the Oregon House. She left that seat in 2022 to run for Congress but came in 7th place in the Democratic primary that was won by Andrea Salinas. She’s an administrator for Oregon’s GED program and a member of SEIU Local 503. IBEW 280, SEIU 503 teresa4senate.com
Senate District 15 (Hillsboro)
Myrna Muñoz is a bilingual education consultant and the sister of state rep Lesly Muñoz (D-Woodburn). As an employee of the Oregon Department of Education, she’s a member of SEIU Local 503. She’s challenging incumbent Janeen Sollman. OLF, AFT-Oregon, CWA, OEA, PCCFFAP, SEIU 503, UFCW, WFP myrnaforsenate.com
Janeen Sollman served six years in the Oregon House and now four years in the Oregon Senate. She stood out among Democrats for voting against labor’s top priority in 2025, the bill to allow striking workers to collect unemployment benefits. To help her fend of the primary challenge from Muñoz, she has received checks totaling $40,000 from Senate Democratic leaders Kate Lieber, Rob Wagner, and Kayse Jama. OBTU, IAFF, IBEW 48, 125, IW 29, SMART 16, UA 290, UBC janeensollman.com
Senate District 16 (North Coast)
Under the terms of a voter-approved 2022 ballot measure, Republican incumbent Suzanne Weber was barred from running for reelection because she participated in Republican walkouts and missed more than 10 legislative floor sessions.
Rachel Armitage of St. Helens is a former Oregon legislative staffer who was appointed to the position on January 14, 2022 but did not run for reelection in the 2022 election. She faces nurse Aaron Dickie and tax consultant Jordan Gutierrez in the primary. UFCW 555 senatedistrict16.com
Senate District 17 (Portland/Beaverton)
Lisa Reynolds, the incumbent, is a pediatrician who served two terms in the Oregon House before being appointed to fill the seat vacated when Elizabeth Steiner won election as state treasurer. OLF, OBTU, ONA, AFSCME, IAFF, IBEW 48, UBC lisafororegon.com
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
The Oregon State House of Representatives has 60 members who must run for re-election every two years. Democrats have had a 37-23 majority since last September when Rep. Cyrus Javadi, elected to represent Tillamook as a Republican, switched parties.
House District 7 (Springfield)
This is an open seat because Democrat John Lively is retiring; three candidates are competing in the Democratic primary.
Ky Fireside is an archeologist and former 911 dispatcher who led the first successful unionization of an Oregon Starbucks in 2022. AFT 3544 (GTFF), SEIU 503 (dual), WFP kyfights.org
Kori Rodley is a Springfield City Council member and works in planning at Lane County Developmental Disabilities Services. OLF, AFSCME, IAFF 851, IW 29, OEA, ONA, SEIU 503 (dual), SMART, UBC, UFCW 555, WFP kori-rodley.com
House District 13 (Eugene)
Nancy Nathanson is a long-serving incumbent, serving as a state representative since 2006, and before that served on Eugene City Council as a library program manager. She earned a gold rating from the Oregon Labor Federation in its most recent rankings. OLF, OBTU, IAFF, ONA, ORCOPS, UBC nancynathanson.org
House District 14 (Western Eugene)
Julie Fahey, incumbent, is speaker of the Oregon House (that chamber’s top leader) and has served as a state rep since 2017. She earned a gold rating from the Oregon Labor Federation in its most recent rankings. OBTU, IAFF, IBEW 48, ONA, UBC juliefahey.org
House District 20 (Monmouth-Salem)
Paul Evans, incumbent, has represented District 20 since 2015. He’s an Air Force vet and a speech teacher at Chemeketa Community College. OLF, AFSCME, IAFF, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, UFCW 555 paulevans.org
House District 27 (Beaverton)
This is an open seat because incumbent Democrat Ken Helm is retiring.
Tammy Carpenter Is a doctor of anesthesiology and serves on the Beaverton School Board. OLF, AFSCME, AFT-Oregon, CWA 7901, OEA, ONA, PCCFFAP, SEIU, WFP tammyfororegon.com
Ashley Hartmeier Prigg is a Beaverton City Councilor and director of product management at Crate & Barrel. IAFF 1669, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, UA 290, UBC, USW District 12 ashleyhartmeierprigg.com
House District 29 (Hillsboro/Forest Grove)
Susan McLain, incumbent, is a retired speech and debate teacher at Glencoe High School and has served as state rep since 2015. She formerly served 26 years as Metro Councilor. In 2025 she voted against a building trades union priority, a bill to extend the prevailing wage to custom components assembled off-site. AFSCME, IAFF, OEA, ONA, SEIU, UBC susanmclain.org
Mark Watson is a Hillsboro school board member and state legislative aide for state senator Janeen Sollman. He’s also co-founder of a software company that does video analysis for MLB and NHL teams. AFT 4671 (Hillsboro Classified United) watsonfororegon.com
House District 35 (Beaverton/Aloha)
Farrah Chaichi, incumbent, is seeking a third term. She works as an intake coordinator for the Stoel Rives law firm. She earned a gold rating from the Oregon Labor Federation in its most recent rankings. OLF, OBTU, CWA, OEA (BEA), ONA, OSEA, IW 29, UFCW 555, WFP chaichifororegon.com
House District 38 (Lake Oswego)
Daniel Nguyen is an incumbent seeking a third term. He’s the owner of Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen and a former Lake Oswego city councilor. In the House he’s seen as one of the leaders of a moderate bloc of business Democrats. Last year he voted against a bill targeting wage theft, saying it would hurt minority contractors. And he waffled heavily on labor’s top priority bill to let strikers collect unemployment, though he eventually voted for it and helped drum up support for the bill among fellow moderates. In the 2026 short legislative session, he helped UFCW Local 555 push colleagues to vote for bill to rescue Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay. OBTU, AFSCME, IAFF 1159, IBT JC 37, IW 29 (dual), SEIU 503, UFCW 555 danielfororegon.com
John (Waz) Wasielewski is a teacher and track coach at Lake Oswego Middle School and serves on the board of the Lake Oswego Schools Foundation. He’s backed by unions who want to hold incumbent Nguyen accountable for instances in which he actively obstructed priority union legislation. AFT-Oregon, CWA 7901, OEA, PCCFFAP, IW 29 (dual), WFP wazfororegon.com
House District 40 (Gladstone/Oregon City)
This is an open seat because incumbent Annessa Hartman opted to run for Clackamas Commission, but then dropped out due to a stage 3 cervical cancer diagnosis.
Charles Gallia is a health policy consultant and former policy advisor for the Oregon Health Authority. It’s his fourth run for state legislature. He’s a former chair of the Clackamas County Democratic Party. He’s also a former teachers union member and served on the board of its political committee. OLF, AFSCME, UFCW 555 charlesgallia.com
Michael Sugar teaches history at West Linn High School, where he serves as debate coach and leader of his local union. OEA, SEIU 503, UA 290, UBC sugarfororegon.com
House District 41 (Portland-Milwaukie)
Mark Gamba is a two-term incumbent and former mayor of Milwaukie. He’s a photographer. In the legislature, his focuses are climate change, affordable housing, and economic inequality. OLF, SEIU 503
House District 43 (Portland)
Tawna Sanchez is a five-term incumbent and director of family services at the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA). In the legislature she’s co-chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, which determines the state budget. AFSCME, IAFF, ONA, UBC tawnasanchez.com
House District 51 (Canby/Estacada/Sandy)
Darla Mead is a nurse navigator in the thoracic, head, and neck oncology department at OHSU. ONA darlameadfororegon.com
House District 52 (Hood River)
This is an open seat because incumbent Republican Jeff Helfrich is running for state senate. Four candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination.
David Osborn is an adjunct (part-time) professor at Portland State University and has been an active member and officer of both faculty unions there. He also serves as vice chair of the school board in the Corbett School District. Running for legislature, he’s an advocate of revenue reform and says he wants to see billionaires and large corporations pay their fair share of taxes. OBTU, CWA 7901, AFT-Oregon, IW 29, PCCFFAP, UFCW 555, WFP osbornfororegon.com
Nick Walden Poublon is a former student health advisor at Portland State University. He worked two years as a legislative aide for the House district, and then challenged incumbent Republican Jeff Helfrich in 2024, winning 48% of the vote. AFSCME, UFCW 555, WFP nwpfororegon.com
House District 54 (Bend)
Jason Kropf, a three-term incumbent, is a personal injury attorney and formerly worked as a public defender and as Deschutes County deputy district attorney. He got the Oregon Labor Federation’s top (platinum) rating for his work in the 2025 legislative session. OLF, OBTU, IAFF, LiUNA, ONA, SEIU 503, UBC jasonkropfforbend.com
Republican primary
Only voters who are registered as Republicans can choose who the party’s nominee will be in the November general election.
About 26% of the union members in Oregon who receive the Labor Press in the mail are registered Republicans (compared to 32% who are registered Democratic). It’s a shame more Republican union members don’t run for public office. Labor unions would love for candidates from both parties to profess union values and compete for the support of organized labor, but it’s become common for Republican candidates to shun union endorsements and vote against union-supported legislation. Often Republican candidates don’t respond to union invitations to fill out candidate questionnaires or be interviewed by union political committees. But there are exceptions. Here are two candidates not running unopposed in the primary who earned union endorsements.
Congressional District 2 (Eastern Oregon)
Andrea Carr is a home care worker and an active member of SEIU Local 503. She’s running a long-shot Republican primary challenge against incumbent Congressman Cliff Bentz, faulting him for voting to cut Medicaid and food stamps. OLF andreacarrforcongress.com
Oregon House District 57 (Heppner)
Greg Smith is Oregon’s longest-serving state representative (26 years) but in the last year has faced accusations of multiple ethics code violations related to his work as an economic development consultant while serving on a public development commission. In the legislature, Smith has long been considered the most pro-labor Republican. Last year a union-backed bill targeting wage theft would have failed if it wasn’t for him, as he was the only Republican to vote in favor when four Democrats voted no. He also was the only Republican to vote to extend the prevailing wage to off-site fabrication. He has also voted to let teachers bargain over class size and to increase funding for Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries. OLF, IAFF, IBEW 48, ONA, UBC, UFCW 555 repgregsmith.com
Why doesn’t the Northwest Labor Press make endorsements?
As a newspaper owned collectively by participating labor organizations, it wouldn’t be proper for the Labor Press to make its own endorsements. Instead, we report as comprehensively as we can on local union endorsements, and trust our readers to make their own decisions on how to vote.
DECODING THE ACRONYMS IN THIS GUIDE
For each candidate, we list labor organization endorsers — first state and central labor and trades councils , then locals and regional councils. If there’s a number next to the letters, that shows the endorsement is from an affiliated local. If a union is listed without a local number, then the endorsement is from a statewide committee.
- OLF Oregon Labor Federation (AFL-CIO)
- OBTU Oregon Building Trades Unions (the statewide council of AFL-CIO-affiliated building trades)
- NOLC Northwest Oregon Labor Council
- COLC Central Oregon Labor Chapter
- LCCLC Lane Coos Curry Labor Chapter
- COBCTC Central Oregon Building and Construction Trades Council
- LCCDBTC Lane, Coos, Curry, Douglas Counties Building Trades Council
- ATU Amalgamated Transit Union
- AFGE American Federation of Government Employees
- BAC Bricklayers and Allied Crafts
- IBB Boilermakers
- CWA Communication Workers
- IAFF Fire Fighters — Oregon State Fire Fighters Council or local
- IBEW Electrical Workers
- IBT JC 37 Teamsters Joint Council 37
- IUEC Elevator Constructors
- IUPAT DC 5 Painters and Allied Trades District Council 5
- IUOE Operating Engineers
- LiUNA Oregon & Southern Idaho District Council of Laborers or local
- ORCOPS Oregon Coalition of Police & Sheriffs (statewide police union coalition)
- PCCFFAP PCC Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals
- UA Plumbers and Pipefitters
- UBC North Coast States Carpenters Union (United Brotherhood of Carpenters)
- UFCW United Food and Commercial Workers (grocery)
- USW Steel Workers
- HFIAW Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers
- WFP Oregon Working Families Party (a minor political party supported and led by unions but not itself a labor organization)
